Hi
I had a Mastectomy with immediate LD reconstruction. My question is when should i be moving forward away from breast cancer. I have a family member i.e. my sister telling me that I should be moving forward now from my breast cancer. I had the operation and reconstruction in July 2014 and am on Arimidex for 5 years.
Dear 2ss
Moving forward is a very personal thing. Only somebody who hasn’t had Breast Cancer would think you can put a time on it. Are you doing something that she thinks you shouldn’t be ??
I was diagnosed is October 2012, have had surgery x 5 FecT100 x 6 and 15 rads. Just had 2 years Mammogram and appears NED. Will change to Letrazole in July this year after 2 years on Tamoxifen.
On the outside everything looks just fine, hair grown back prosthesis in place (even purchased a new swimming one this week as i swim 3/4 times per week) but inside i will never be the same person again ‘moving forward’ is slow and some days are still pretty tough.
I have had every alternative therapy known to man, Counselling, Residentials at Penny Brohn Cancer Support Centre and continue to practice Mindfulness Meditation and Mindfulness Colouring.
I have a very pragmatic Husband, lovely Son and Daughter In Law, very supportive Sister and a lovely group of friends. In all of those people there are two. My Husband and One friend who is a work colleague and twenty years younger than me, very straight and whose life hasn’t been easy, that i have been able to tell just how bad i felt on some days and still sometimes do.
It is sometimes difficult to find appropriate support and often people want us to be ok and ‘recovered’. Can you find a support group, Breast Cancer Care Moving Forward Group or Cancer Support services in your area and move forward at a pace that is right for you. Breast Cancer is a huge intrusion into our lives and takes some getting over.
Look after youself. Gilly x
Hi 2ss
As Gilly has mentioned below BCC run moving forward programmes and here’s the link to more information about this:
breastcancercare.org.uk/moving-forward
Take care
Lucy BCC
Thank you both. feeling emotionally sore at the moment.